Why do people lean for the truth when it comes out?It’s not like it mattered anymore. “For someone who’s been lyingto me this whole time, the truth won’t be the truth. You’ll find a way to deceive me again.”
“That isn’t true.” There was yearning in his tone. It would be incredibly easy to give in—to forgive him.But I couldn’t forgive myself. “I never meant to hurt you in this process. When I found out the truth seven years ago, I wanted to avenge my mother. You read the letter. You know what she said. You were the easy route to get revenge, but I promise I wasn’t planning on hurting you. On our wedding day I found out about the airplane crash and how it was planned by Eda—she was scared Eomma would tell them about what happened, and her plan wouldn’t work so she called them herself and went through with the plan. I didn’t know about everything, I just?—”
“No.”
His words broke apart—snipping themselves into a thousand pieces and implementing my consciousness.Eda killed my parents. She betrayed Eunbin. I was the mistake in all of this—the liability. She was using me to get to the top. Christian was using me to get to her. And me? I wasn’t using myself at all. All along I was this empty can, echoing the sounds of others’ voices. A string attached to the nape of my neck while they used me for their one sake. I was the mistake.If I’d been in that plane, Eda would have gotten what she wanted and I wouldn’t have to deal with the corrupted, molded, expired pain expanding in my chest. I felt violated.
There were two Christian’s.
He flooded into numerous sounds, none of which I understood.
My breaths lowered themselves into the pits of my stomach while collecting air but never releasing it. As if itwere stocking up for an apocalypse. “Stop talking.” Thumping a hard hand against my chest, wishing this ache would surpass.
Heaving and throbbing and disoriented.
Count to eight, Adelaide.
But what was eight?
How do I get to eight?
Numbers vanished from my mind and all I saw was the distortions of him.
Panic rose through my veins, transferring to my fingertips where it settled back into my skin by biting into my palms.
“Adelaide,” his hold felt like shackles around my neck. “Look at me, baby.”
Weakly, I shoved. “I need you toleave.”
His presence, his late honesty, I couldn’t bear it.
Why couldn’t I be normal?
Why did this happen tome?
“I’m not leaving you like this.” He rubbed up and down my arms but all it did was strung the wrong chord. “Breathe?—”
“I can’t breathe because ofyou.”
One…
He fell back against his feet
Two…
This will pass.
Three….
His face fell.
Four…
This will pass.
Five…
Christian stood completely broken apart as if a bullet pierced through him.
